Report: Saints sign off pre-season with Getafe stalemate

Will Smallbone twice came close in the first half from two quick-fire openings, while Adam Armstrong dragged a late chance wide.

Saints were rarely troubled defensively en route to a second clean sheet in the last three friendlies of the summer, as attentions now turn to next week’s Premier League opener at Newcastle.

Russell Martin named an almost entirely different starting XI from the team that took to the field against Lazio in midweek, with Alex McCarthy and Ben Brereton Díaz the sole survivors, while there was a first pre-season run-out for Kyle Walker-Peters at left wing-back.

After a fiery encounter with the Italians, there was an early scuffle here when Jack Stephens upset the visitors, and tempers flared again when Jan Bednarek squared up to Carles Aleñá late in the half.

As for the football, Alex McCarthy made a routine early save and nearly had himself an assist when his missile-like pass over the top fed the run of Armstrong in behind the defence, but his touch just eluded him and the offside flag was raised in any case.

Kyle Walker-Peters made his first appearance of pre-season at left wing-back

There were some bright bursts down the right from Yukinari Sugawara, whose industry along with Brereton Díaz on the opposite flank drew regular applause, but Saints nearly shot themselves in the foot on the half-hour mark.

McCarthy’s pass was picked off on the edge of the box, inviting Alex Sola to seek out the top corner with a curling shot from 15 yards that sailed off target.

Meanwhile, Walker-Peters showed no signs of rustiness with a dazzling dribble through a sea of blue shirts to win a free-kick, sparking Saints’ best spell of the half.

Sugawara’s inswinging free-kick from the inside-left channel was met firmly by an impressive Smallbone header, forcing an acrobatic tip over from goalkeeper David Soria.

The midfielder was involved again when he seized on a loose pass midway inside the Getafe half and exchanged passes with Brereton Díaz, only to see his low shot denied by a last-ditch block.

Getafe defender Omar Alderete throws himself in the way of Will Smallbone's shot

After two more Getafe bookings at the start of the second half, Martin made his first changes on the hour, as Walker-Peters and Brereton Díaz departed to generous applause, replaced by Charlie Taylor and Samuel Edozie respectively.

Taylor’s first involvement was to help Saints play through the Getafe press, before McCarthy took the more direct route to find Edozie, whose pass to Armstrong was good but the striker’s shot was blocked.

Further changes followed on 73 minutes, as Paul Onuachu made his first appearance since returning from last season’s goal-laden loan spell at Trabzonspor, while Joe Lumley donned the gloves, immediately parrying to safety a well-struck shot from Omar Alderete.

Former Bournemouth left-back Diego Rico also tried his luck from long range, while a slick Saints counter saw Smallbone find Armstrong, who just pulled his low shot past the post, but there was to be no way through for either side.

Saints: McCarthy (Lumley 73), Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek (Onuachu 73), Stephens (c), Walker-Peters (Taylor 60), Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, Armstrong (Dibling 80), Brereton Díaz (Edozie 60).

Subs not used: Lis, Edwards, Wood, Bree, Manning, Amo-Ameyaw, Mara.

Yellow cards: Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Aribo.

Getafe: Soria, Iglesias, Djené (c), Alderete, Rivera (Rico 45), Milla (Arambarri 45), Uche, Sola (González 45), Santiago (Aberdin 71), Aleñá (Pérez 45), da Costa (Risco 60).

Subs not used: Letáček, Ferrer.

Yellow cards: Aleñá, Rico, Santiago.

Referee: Jumpei Iida.

Attendance: 7,624.